Senior Andhra cop to be probed for sexual harassment
By IANSWednesday, January 5, 2011
HYDERABAD - The Andhra Pradesh government Wednesday ordered a probe against Vijayawada Police Commissioner P.S.R. Anjaneyulu for allegedly sexually harassing some women.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was away in New Delhi, told reporters that he had directed Director General of Police Aravinda Rao to probe the allegations.
Anjaneyulu allegedly made sexual advances to some high profile women, including a doctor and a lecturer, by making repeated phone calls and sending SMSes to them.
After a Telugu television channel carried the transcripts of the SMSes, the police officer admitted to sending the SMSes, saying he was playing a game with a politician who had laid a trap for him.
The Indian Police Service (IPS) officer alleged that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Vallabhaneni Vamsi was trying to implicate him out of grudge for reducing his security cover. Vamsi, however, denied the allegations.
No woman has come forward to lodge a complaint with the police but Aravinda Rao said there would be a thorough probe into the allegations. Rao said an officer of the rank of additional director general would conduct the inquiry.
State Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy said appropriate action would be taken after receiving a report from the police chief.
Activists of some women’s organisations took to the streets in Vijayawada, demanding that the government dismiss the police commissioner.
